Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Information & discussion on the Rhino Poaching Pandemic
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Well done! \O \O


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/new ... d-38048872?

Anti-poaching tool contract not renewed
NEWS / 27 NOVEMBER 2019, 12:09PM / SHEREE BEGA


The SA Police Service (SAPS) has not renewed its contract with RhODIS, a groundbreaking forensic prosecution tool that has helped tackle the illicit trade in rhino horn and put poachers behind bars.

There is now a “major backlog” in the processing of rhino poaching and stock-theft cases while the processing of forensic samples at rhino poaching crime scenes has ostensibly also ground to a halt.


RhODIS, the Rhino DNA Index System, is a project initiated by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the University of Pretoria in 2009, to collect and catalogue DNA from rhinos and rhino horns.

It contains more than 20 000 rhino samples from live rhinos, stockpile horns and forensic cases. “In the past, the SAPS Forensics Science Laboratory in Silverton brought the rhino horn straight to us,” said Dr Cindy Harper, of the VGL.

But in 2017, she said, the SAPS issued a tender for the DNA contract, which took six months to award. RhODIS was eventually given the two-year contract for stock theft and rhinos, which expired in July.

“But this time the way it worked was that all investigators must first take their samples to the forensic science lab in Silverton, and then depending on the cases, it went to us... It was a 24-month contract that ended in July and hasn’t been renewed.

“The last case we received from the lab was on July 18. The other cases from then on for rhino and stock theft are still at the lab as far as I’m aware.” This has hampered the finalisation of poaching cases.

“We only received a very small number of actual poaching cases this year so the others are still sitting there waiting, unanalysed. That makes it impossible to finalise (the cases). There’s no DNA reports written for those cases this year.

“Indications are there’s a major backlog obviously on both the stock theft and rhino-poaching cases and the indications are that this needs to be caught up and many of those cases can’t be finalised in court.

“You really need to make sure these things get done as quickly as possible. The backlog is getting bigger. With such an enormous backlog, you will have to put in incredible effort and capacity to catch up.”

The processing of forensic cases at poaching scenes has also been affected. “We started supplying kits for forensics, live rhinos and stockpiles in 2011 but the police stopped using our kits when the contract with the SAPS started in 2017.”

The SAPS developed its own kit. “As far as I’m aware they have now run out of those kits and I’m not sure if they’ve been able to supply new ones.” The SAPS referred the Saturday Star to the Hawks, who did not respond to requests for comment.

The Department f Environment, Forestry and Fisheries did not respond. Kim da Ribeira, of Outraged South African Citizens Against Rhino Poaching, said it was horrified that the processing of forensic samples at rhino-poaching crime scenes in the Kruger National Park had ground to a halt. “The incompetence, bureaucratic bungling and mismanagement that has led to this situation is frightening and wholly unacceptable.

“When will our competent authorities be held accountable for their lack of political will to end the horrific slaughter of these iconic animals, our rhino? We thought rhino poaching was a priority crime. Clearly, it isn’t.

She said enquiries regarding the ability of the SAPS to process evidence gathered at rhino poaching crime scenes in the Kruger were “met with no response, or ‘we will bring it up with the minister next week’”.

“Our rhino don’t have a ‘next week’. We need to know someone with some authority is willing and able to ensure the current issue is addressed.”

She said Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries representatives “sat at COP18” and painted a picture of a government department that had a handle on the crisis.

“We were told, in response to a question relating to the length of time it took to capture new samples into the RhODIS system, that the department was aware of the backlog."

"They explained that this was also due to crime scene matching of DNA samples with database records taking priority over recording of new DNA samples.”

Fact Box:

RhODIS stores a unique genetic fingerprint for every rhino that has been sampled. The concept is based on the Combined DNA Indexing System used by US law enforcement to store the genetic fingerprints of humans.

In a paper published in January last year, in the journal Current Biology, Harper explained how DNA evidence is being used successfully to link rhinoceros horns seized from poachers and traffickers in various countries directly to the specific crime scenes where rhino carcasses were left behind.

The work includes a chain-ofcustody-compliant bio-sampling kit and sampling methodology and then had already been used in more than 5 800 forensic cases with links made between recovered horns, bloodstained evidence items and specific rhino carcasses in more than 120 cases.

One case involving three horns and tissues from two carcasses led to a jail sentence of 29 years.

The Saturday Star


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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:evil: :evil: :evil:


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Lisbeth »

There is such a great tool and then they don't use it O/ O/ :evil:

I understand why some cases never end up in court, if they are treating the human identifications in the same way 0*\

It is really depressing that there is no will at all to make progress even if they have the tools. In this way SA will never become a serious country. The police seems to be obstructing themselves :evil:


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Cops recover 100 rhino horns, four tiger carcasses, guns and ammunition during raids

2019-11-27 22:33 | Ntwaagae Seleka

North West police have recovered 100 rhino horns, four tiger carcasses, a tiger skin, weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition during a raid on two farms in the province.

The raids took place in Klerksdorp and Hartebeesfontein during an intelligence-driven operation by the Organised Crime Unit and illicit mining team on Tuesday, which resulted in the arrest of five suspects.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the raids were part of the police's ongoing endeavour in the province to turn the tide against illicit mining.

"The suspects' arrests emanated from the operationalisation of intelligence about illegal firearms which were reportedly kept on a farm in the Klerksdorp area. During the operation, a hunting rifle, shotgun, special revolver, pistol as well as a number of empty cartridges and live rounds of ammunition were recovered.

"Moreover, the police confiscated what appeared to be a tiger skin. Further probes led the police to another farm in the Hartebeesfontein area where two suspects were arrested for being in possession of illegal firearms that included a rifle, hunting rifle, pistol, revolver as well as 708 rounds of ammunition," said Mokgwabone.

The two suspects were found in possession of approximately 100 rhino horns, four tiger carcasses and US dollars valued at R45 900.

The five suspects are expected to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

North West provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the officers for their hard work which resulted in the arrests and confiscations.

Motswenyane said the arrests would send a clear message that the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those who disrespect the rule of law, including possessing illegal firearms, would be dealt with accordingly.


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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https://lowvelder.co.za/516447/judge-re ... ourt-roll/?

Judge repeats instructions that all cases to return to Skukuza Court roll

Judge President of Mpumalanga, Judge Francis Legodi, during a “heated meeting” on Friday, repeated his instructions that Skukuza Regional Court must continue as usual.
1 day ago

Image

Current Regional Court president, Naomi Engelbrecht, had made a low-profile decision to close this court and move it almost 100 kilometres away from the Kruger National Park (KNP) to Mhala Magistrate’s Court.

Image

People close to the fight against poaching, specifically rhino poaching, were surprised by the decision, as the court had been vital in reducing rhino poaching statistics.

Legodi intervened after the matter had been brought to his attention and sent through official communication that the court was to proceed as normal. At the time he assured that he had started an investigation into the matter.

Despite his direct instructions, all poaching and other cases were still referred, allegedly by Engelbrecht, to the Mhala Court until there were no cases left on the roll.

Legodi then told Lowvelder that he had requested Engelbrecht to provide a written motivation for closing the court without reverting to the stakeholders who took the decision two years ago to continue using Skukuza Regional Court.

The meeting on Friday was then called to find an amicable solution.

Legodi confirmed that he had sent the outcome of the meeting to KNP’s Nicholus Funda.

Funda could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print. Skukuza Regional Court is renowned for fighting rhino poaching.

It has been recognised, both nationally and internationally, as the heart of the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa.

Serious cases were tried in this court, including those in which suspects were linked to a poached rhino, in which repeat offenders had been rearrested, in which syndicates were involved and in which rangers were arrested for rhino poaching.


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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What is going on there??? 0*\ 0- 0=


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Alf »

Richprins wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:28 am What is going on there??? 0*\ 0- 0=
When a judge must attend the court at Skukuza does he pay conservation fees when entering the gate -O-


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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lol

No ways, Alpheus. Workers in the Park must just have entry organised!


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Lisbeth »

Very strange that a Regional Court president can close a court without asking anybody. Even more strange is why :-?


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